Kevin Greene, the former Auburn defensive end who starred as a pass rusher in the NFL for 15 seasons, has decided to step away from the game, according to a release from the Green Bay Packers.

Greene, who has coached the Packers' outside linebackers for the past five seasons and played a key role in the development of Pro Bowler Clay Matthews, made the decision to step away on his own.

"I am stepping away from the NFL at this time in order to spend more time with my wife, Tara, and our children, Gavin and Gabrielle," Greene said in a press release. "I will miss coaching and will try to return after our kids move on to college if a team will have me."

"My experience here with the Green Bay Packers has been nothing but positive. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have blessed me with. I have a peace about the productivity that I helped bring forward in all of the fine young men that have been entrusted to me these past five years. I am most proud of all their accomplishments and the fine young men they've become in this league."

Greene, who was recently named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for a career that produced 160 sacks and five Pro Bowl berths, made a move that came as something of a surprise to the Packers.

"Kevin approached me recently to express his desire to step away from coaching so that he could spend more time with his family,” McCarthy said in the Packers' release. "Kevin provided an incredible amount of energy, passion and knowledge each and every day he was with us. The dedication he showed to maximizing the potential of his players was clearly evident to anyone that worked with him, and he will be missed. I want to wish Kevin, Tara, Gavin and Gabrielle nothing but the best in the years ahead."